CD recorder and printer

ABSTRACT

A disc copying or recording device and a disc label printer are mounted in a common assembly, and include a printhead moveable along a guide shaft on a frame. A disc transport carriage is mounted on the same guide shaft as the printhead, can be moved along this guide shaft for picking up discs in a storage area, moving a disc to a tray or support used for recording and then to a disc tray or support for printing, and moving a finished disc to a finished disc storage region. The carriage has an arm with a disc picker that can be moved to hold and release discs in a desired location. The carriage is latched to the printhead and the printhead drive is used for moving the carriage along the guide shaft in the preferred showing.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a combined disc recorder and labelprinter for recording digital information on compact discs, includingmusic, video recordings, and any other type of information recorded onplastic discs. Printing label information onto the disc at the time ofrecording completes the processing of the disc.

Apparatus for printing on plastic discs have been advanced in the artwhere a recorder for a disc is combined in the same unit as a printer,as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,327,230. However, the device shown in U.S.Pat. No. 6,327,230 includes a vending sequence, and uses entirelydifferent mechanisms for the printing and the recording. The disc “pick”or holder that transports the disc between various stations is separatefrom the printer.

The handling of discs that have center openings, including lifting asingle disc from a stack of discs or individually from a tray or supportis well known. A number of different types of “picks” or grippers havebeen advanced including a pick or gripper shown in Costas U.S. Pat. No.5,873,692, as well as other types of grippers such as that shown in U.S.Pat. Nos. 6,111,847 and 5,934,865.

Also, it has been well known to print “label” information directly ontodiscs. Recording or disc duplication also has been carried out, as shownin U.S. Pat. No. 6,141,298 to Miller, but the combination of an easilyused ink jet printer that will reliably print information onto a discwhen it is recorded, with a minimum amount of apparatus is desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention combines a compact disc recorder (duplicator orburner) and printer that minimizes the amount of apparatus that is used,and which preferably utilizes a common support shaft for the printheadand the disc transporter for sequencing a disc between processes. Theblank discs are generally a plastic disc, and are termed compact discsor “CD's”; DVD's; and recordable DVDs, mini discs and name badge discs.The peripheral shapes are not only circular, but can be rectilinear orwith parallel sides and rounded or curved ends.

In the present invention, a feature is that the printer that is used forprinting onto the discs is an inkjet printer that moves along a bearingshaft, with a power drive. The printhead is guided on this shaft in alateral direction for printing, while the item on which it is recordingwill be moved in a direction perpendicular to the shaft. As shown thesame shaft is used for mounting a disc “picker” or gripper, so that theunit is integrated into one compact assembly, utilizing a minimum amountof individual framework, or supports, making for a more compactarrangement and making more efficient use of the supports. A separate,parallel shaft or guide can be used for the picker mounting.

Specifically, a CD printer of a well known design can be used. U.S. Pat.No. 6,148,722 shows a thermal printer with a CD support tray that fees aCD past a thermal printhead. The CD or disc support tray drive shown inU.S. Pat. No. 6,148,722 can be used with ink jet printers as well. Discrecorders or duplicators available on the open market can be used in theapparatus of the present invention. The duplicating mechanism and theprinter both utilize trays that will extend from the recorder or theprinter housing under a control program. The trays extend to a positionwhere a disc can be placed onto the respective tray for the respectiveoperation. The blank discs are stored in a stack or storage area, andare lifted with the disc gripper or picker head that is mounted on avertically moveable arm. The arm is supported on a carriage that slidesalong a bearing shaft which also is used for mounting the printhead.

The operations can be sequenced. For example, the blank disc can bepicked from the supply and moved to a position overlying the tray forthe disc burner or recorder when it is extended, and then dropped inplace. The programmed control will cause the disc to move into the CDburner or recorder, and after the information is recorded, the tray willbe moved back to the extended position where the disc is accessible forthe disc gripper or picker to lift the disc up from that tray and holdit in a raised position clearing the tray of the CD burner or recorder.

The program will then cause the recorder or burner tray to retract, andthe printer tray is caused to extend. The printer tray, when extended,will be generally in registry with the position of the burner orrecorder tray when the recorder tray is extended, so that the disc canbe moved down from its raised position by the gripper or pick down ontothe printer tray. The CD is released, the picker is retracted and theprinter then will be operated to print label information according to aprogram onto the newly recorded disc. When the printing operation isdone, the program control will cause the picker to again lift the CDfrom the printer tray and transport it to a storage area where thefinished disc or CD is stacked.

The picker or gripper is mounted onto an arm that is on a carriagemounted on the same bearing shaft and support as the printhead for theprinter. This eliminates separate mountings, and makes the assembly muchmore compact and also increases reliability. The carriage for the discpickup arm releasably latches onto the printhead for movement along therail. This eliminates the need for a separate drive for the picker orgrip carriage. The grip or pick is moved vertically with a separatethreaded rod driven by a stepper motor. The alignment of the disc withthe tray is greatly simplified.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a simplified schematic perspective view of a recorder andprinter assembly made according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic top plan view thereof showing a layout ofcomponents;

FIG. 3 is a simplified, schematic perspective view of the device in FIG.1 taken at opposite angle from FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken as on line 4—4 in FIG. 5;

FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of the CD recorder and printer of thepresent invention;

FIG. 6 is a front view of a printhead and carriage in a position latchedtogether;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the mounting of a latch lever andarm actuator of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged perspective view of the latch lever in positionlatched to the printhead; and

FIG. 9 is a front perspective view of a modified form of the invention,showing an expanded disc storage.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating a process of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A disc printer and recorder or burner apparatus is shown generally at10, and includes a frame 12 that extends transversely and has endsupports 13 supported on a base plate 15. The frame 12 can be aconventional inkjet printer frame such as that on a Lexmark ink jetprinter, made and sold by Lexmark, International Inc. of Lexington Ky.,USA, and it provides a stable support for movement of the printhead andother components in a lateral direction. Frame 12 supports a transversebearing support shaft 14 for slidably mounting a printhead 16. Theprinthead 16 also has suitable guides at the upper end 17 on a track 12Aat the top of the frame 12, so that the printhead 16 is held stable forprinting can be moved laterally along the bearing rail 14. The printheadhas two ink cartridges 16A and 16B as shown, and it is onlyschematically shown since the printhead guides for the printhead andprinthead drives are conventional on Lexmark printers.

A drive belt 18 for the printhead 16 is driven from a suitable motorrepresented at 20, the drive is a conventional drive used for inkjetprintheads. The drive moves the printhead 16 along the shaft 14 and issynchronized with movement of the printer tray to carry out the printingoperation with a central controller 19.

The printer frame, the guide shaft, the printhead, and the printer headdrive, as well as the CD tray and tray drive are conventional.

The central controller 19 is provided for controlling the variousoperations of the apparatus 10 including controlling the printhead motor20, and as will be the explained, controlling the recording of the CDand printing a label on the recorded CD operations.

The printer includes a CD printer housing 23 that has a disc supporttray 22 for a compact disc, which is to have a label printed thereon. Adisc or CD 25 is illustratively shown in position on the tray. When adisc 25 is on the tray 22, the tray can be moved so that it is in aposition as shown in FIG. 1. The tray is movable under a positive,coordinated drive relative to the printhead 16, for printing on a discon the tray. The tray 22 is moved inwardly and outwardly from housing 23perpendicular to the printhead bearing shaft 14, while the printhead 16travels along the bearing shaft 14 for the printing job, generallywithin the showings of the printer and printer feed in U.S. Pat. Nos.6,148,722 and 6,302,601. While the print tray 22 is shown extended inFIG. 1, the recording or burning operation on the disc will take placefirst, before the printing operation is carried out.

The discs or CD's 25 have standard center openings, and in order tohandle the discs, a disc transport mechanism 30A including a carriage 30and a disc gripper or picker illustrated at 24, which is mounted onto anarm 28, in a suitable manner. The gripper 24 can be of any desired form,but as shown it has three vertical finger blades 24B that have ends 24Athat will slip into the opening of a compact disc. A solenoid 26 that isalso mounted on the arm 28 will be actuated to spread the ends 24A ofthe gripper blades 24B to engage the inner surfaces of the opening inthe center of a CD to be handled. While FIG. 1 does not show the supplyof blank CD's, the stack is represented at 46 in FIGS. 2 and 5, and thestack underlies or is below the arm 28 and gripper 24 when the gripperis at a “home” position at one end (the left end in the figures) of theframe.

The arm 28 and the solenoid 26 are mounted onto carriage 30, formingpart of the disc transport mechanism 30A. The carriage 30 is slideablymounted onto the same bearing shaft 14 as the printhead 16 and also canengage the guide edge 12A for stability. The carriage 30 is moved alongthe bearing shaft 14 by latching or hooking it to the printhead 16 andusing the printhead drive belt 18 and motor 20 for positioning thehandler carriage. The latching or hooking action, and movement of thecarriage 30 is under overall control of the controller 19.

The carriage 30 has a central block 31 that has hubs 31A guided on apair of vertical posts 31B. The center block 31 also has a threaded hub31C that is threadably mounted onto a vertical threaded rod or post 32.The rod or post 32 is rotatably supported on upper and lower Plates 33Aand 33B of carriage 30. The threaded rod or post 32 moves with thecarriage and the arm 28 is supported on the post, and can be moved invertical directions along the post 32, by rotating the post with astepper motor 33. The motor 33 is on a top plate 33A of the carriage 30.The motor 33 will rotate the post 32 under control of the controller 19to move the arm 28 up or down. The carriage 30 also has a pair ofupright guide and support walls 35A and 35B connected between plates 33Aand 33B. The guide walls 35A and 35B have guide hooks 37A and 37B thatfit over the guide rail 12A for slidable guiding.

The movement of the carriage 30 along the bearing shaft 14 and as guidedby rail 12A is accomplished by releasably attaching the carriage 30 tothe printhead 16, utilizing a catch lever 29 that is pivotally mountedon upright wall 35A of the carriage 30. The catch lever 29 fits in aslot 35C and its base end 35E is mounted at a pivot pin 29A that is heldin the wall 35A. The lever 29 also passes through a slot in wall 35B andhas a catch or hook 29B (FIGS. 5, 6, 7, and 8,) at the outer end. Thehook 29B on catch lever 29 will pivot up when a ramp edge 29E is engagedby a lug 34 on the printhead, as the printhead is moved against thecarriage 30. The arm 28 can be raised so a flange 31F on block 31engages a tab 29T to lift the hook 29B. The hook 29B can be raised to alevel to clear a lug or rib 34 on the printhead 16.

The vertical position of arm 28 where a CD held in the gripper 23 is inposition to be transported between stations is lower than the portionwhere it will lift the catch lever 29. The printhead can be quicklymoved against the carriage 30 for latching automatically by driving belt18.

The catch lever 29 can be spring loaded to urge the catch end 29Bdownwardly if desired. The belt 18 and motor 20 is used for driving theprinthead 16 along bearing shaft 14. The connection with the catch lever29 will cause the carriage 30 to also slide along the bearing shaft 14.

In operating the recorder and printer through a cycle, first the arm 28is moved downwardly so the gripper 24 engages a blank disc 25A from thesupply stack 46 in a storage tray or hopper 46A (FIG. 5). The solenoid26 is activated so a CD or disc is gripped. The arm 28 then can beraised by driving motor 33 to the position where the disc that is heldin gripper 24 can be moved laterally. The printhead 16 is moved by motor20 operating belt 18, and is lateral to the carriage 30 either before orafter picking up a blank disc.

When latching the printer to the carriage, the printhead 16 is movedagainst the carriage and the lug or rib 34 will ride on the tapered edge29E on the catch lever 29 until the hook end latches to hold thecarriage 30 to move as the printhead is moved to the right in thedrawings with the printhead 16.

The disc arm transport 28 is positioned at an angle to the axis ofbearing shaft 14 supporting the carriage 30 such that when the carriage30 is all the way to the left in FIGS. 1 and 5, the gripper or pick 24will overlie the stack 46 of blank discs. After lowering the arm 28 topick up a disc, and hooking the carriage 30 to the printhead 16, thecarriage is moved to the right by moving the printhead 16 using the belt18 and motor 20. The disc gripper or pick on arm 28, and a disc that iscarried by the gripper are moved to come into registry with a centerrecording and printing position

In addition to the printer housing 23, which includes a drive 23A fortray 22, a disc recorder or burner 40 of conventional design ispositioned below the printer housing. The recorder operating system alsois controlled by the controller 19. Recorder 40 can be of the same typethat is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,327,230. This recorder has a CD or discsupport tray 42 that extends from the recorder housing to the positiongenerally as shown in FIG. 1 using the controller 19 operating therecorder internal drive for loading blank disc. The loading position ofthe recorder disc support tray is directly below, or in other words inregistry with, the position of the printer disc support tray 22. Whenthe printer tray 22 is retracted into the printer housing 17, therecorder tray 42 will be in a position to receive a blank disc 25 fromthe picker 24 on the arm 28. The printing tray 22 will be retracted intothe printer housing 23 during the recording operation.

Once the blank disc 25 is deposited on the tray 42 and released by thepicker, the tray 42 will be retracted into the burner or recordinghousing 40 for the recording operation. The retraction and recordingoperation is under control of the controller 19, with the inputs beingselected by the user. The recording sequence is selected by theoperating program of the recorder, which can be as provided by therecorder manufacturer, and the particulars of the recording operationform no part of the invention.

Once the recording is completed, the tray 42 will be extended back outto the position shown in FIG. 1, but printer tray 22 will remainretracted. The recorded disc is picked up with the picker 24, and thearm 28 is moved up to raise the disc sufficiently to clear the level ofthe tray 22. The tray 22 then will be extended from the printer housing,(the tray 42 can be retracted) and the arm 28 lowered and the picker 24released to place the disc that had just been recorded in printer tray22. The disc label printing operation will then take place.

During printing, preferably the carriage 30 will be moved to its rest orhome position shown in FIG. 1, (by pushing it to the left with theprinthead) and disengaged from the printhead by moving arm 28 to liftflange 31F to engage flange 29T to lift catch lever 29 to release thecarriage 30 from the printhead. This vertical position of the arm 28 ishigher than the portion of the arm as the disc is moved laterally. Theposition can be sensed by a position sensor 60 (FIG. 8).

The printhead 16 will then be operated along the bearing shaft 14 andguide rail 12A in a normal manner, moving back and forth as controlledby controller 19 driving motor 20 and belt 18, while the tray 22 will bemoved perpendicular to the guide shaft 14, under control of a traydrive.

After the printing is done, the printhead 16 will be moved over to theleft in FIG. 1, and again latched to the carriage. The lug 34 lifts thecatch lever 29 by sliding on edge surface 29E. When the hook 29B engagesthe lug or blade 34 on the printhead 16, the carriage 30 can be moved topick up the finished (recorded and printed) disc and move the finisheddisc 25 to a storage tray 50, on the right hand end of the device 10, asshown in FIGS. 1 and 5, or to a center storage location as shown in FIG.9.

The latching of the carriage 30 to the printhead provides for anefficient use of existing components to achieve a new combination. Thecarriage 30 for the disc handling gripper 24 is preferably mounted onthe same bearing shaft 14 and other guides on frame 12 as the printhead16, (but can be on separate or parallel guides) and is moved by movingthe printhead 16 using existing motors and drive. The catch lever 29 canbe latched to the printhead automatically by sliding the printhead underthe latch or by raising the catch lever with the arm 28 before movingthe printhead under the catch lever.

The process will then be repeated as desired. There is no need for apivoting tower that is provided in various duplicators, there is no needfor a separate independent drive for the disc transport mechanism.

In FIG. 9, a modified version of the printer CD recorder and printer ofthe present invention is indicated at 100. In this form of theinvention, the printhead and carriage latching remain the same, andwhile FIG. 9 may show some additional details, the operation ofhandling, recording and printing discs is the same as previouslydescribed. In this instance, a support top 102, such a work top, tableor the like is provided, for supporting the frame 12 in position. Theframe 12 includes the main bearing support shaft 14 on which theprintheads 16 will be moved, along with the printer drive belt 18 whichis driven from a motor in a suitable manner. The printer provided inthis form of the invention, is exactly the same, and the disc transportmechanism 30A including the carriage 30 is controlled relative to theprinthead 16 as previously described, using a catch lever 29. The picker24 is operated in the same manner as before, and the stepper motor 33 isdriven to move the arm 28 and the picker vertically, as desired.

Programming for recording and printing can also remain the same, but inthis form of the invention, the capacity of the CD recorder and printeris increased by using the two disc storage areas or hoppers on the frame12 as blank disc storage areas. As shown in FIG. 9, a blank disc storagearea 104 is on the left side, and has the same guide walls for retaininga stack of discs as the storage area for the stack of blank discs in theprevious figures. As can be seen, blank discs 106 are stored in thestorage area or hopper 104. A second blank disc storage area or hoppershown at 108 comprises guides that stores another stack of blank discs106. The location of storage area 108 is the same as that used for thecompleted discs in the first form of the invention.

In order to provide for the storage of the same number of completelyrecorded and printed discs as the blank discs, a completed disc supportarea or hopper 110 is provided in the center of the frame 12,essentially in alignment with the center bisecting planes of the printerand recorder. The support or hopper 110 has a vertical support wall 112that attaches either to the bottom of the frame 12, or directly to thetabletop 102, and it is in alignment with an inclined chute or ramp 114that is in alignment with the disc trays of the printer 20 and recorderor burner 40. The chute 114 extends from an upper level below andadjacent to the disc tray 42 of the burner or recorder 40, downwardly toan outer trough portion 116 that has guide flanges 118 for guiding acompletely finished disc indicated at 120 as it slides down the chute orramp. The upper end of the chute or ramp 114 is underneath the outer endof the arm 28 and gripper 24, so that when the arm 28 and gripper 24have been used to lift and remove a completely finished disc from theprinter tray 22, the disc 120 can be lowered by operating the motor 33to lower the arm the amount desired, and the disc will drop down to theramp 114, where it will slide as indicated by the arrow 122 to comebetween the guides 124 on the support area or hopper 110. The guides 124are part circular, as shown, and are supported on a horizontal basemember 126 of the support 110 that is attached to the vertical wallportion 112.

The guides 124 are part cylindrical and made so they will provide for astorage of the number of finished discs equal to the blank discs 106 inboth of the storage areas 104 and 108. For example, with 25 discs ineach of the storage areas 104 and 108, the support or hopper 110 is madeto hold 50 finished discs.

Thus, the disc recorder and printer assembly remains compact. Thefinished disc support 110 can be placed in position after the frame 12has been located on a work top or table 102.

The center bisecting plane of the finished disc support 110, which isperpendicular to the guide shaft 14, defines the center line along whichthe disc 120 that is finished and released by the gripper 24 will slide.The plane bisects the trays 22 and 42 that support the disc during theoperations of printing and recording. Thus the finished disc support iscentered on the bisecting plane of the printer. The blank disc storageareas or hoppers 104 and 108 are spaced essentially the same amount onopposite sides of this plane, so that the arm 28 can be easilymanipulated to pick up the blank discs, and deposit them first in therecording tray, and then the printing tray. When fully finished thegripper and arm are used to lift the disc out of the printer tray anddeposit the finished disc onto the slide 114 for storage.

In FIG. 10, a block diagram showing the process for operation of thepresent invention is illustrated. A block indicated at 70 is the startof the process. The carriage 30 is kept latched to the printhead exceptwhen printing takes place, so the position of the carriage 30 is knownand controlled. A blank CD is picked up by the carriage 30, using the“picker” 24 as shown in block 72.

The printhead 16 is driven, and moves the carriage 30 along with it tomove a blank disc to the CD recorder tray as indicated by block 74. Therecording or burning of the CD (or other recordable disc) takes place inthe recorder housing. The carriage is moved over the recorder tray andthe gripper 24 will remove the recorded CD and the recorder tray will beretracted as shown in block 76. Next, the print tray 22 is extended, andthe CD is deposited in the printer tray as indicated by block 78. Thecarriage can be disengaged from the printhead and moved to its storageposition as indicated by the block 80. The label is printed with thelabel information using the ink jet printhead. This is indicated atblock 82. After printing, the carriage 30 is latched to the printheadagain as indicated by block 84, and the CD that is finished is removedfrom the printer tray by operating the “picker” or gripper 24 asindicated by block 86, and then the finished CD is moved to the finishedstack, either storage station 50 or support 110, as indicated by block88.

The carriage is reset as indicated by the block 90, that is it is movedover to the left, and remains latched to the printhead. When the programcalls for another recording and printing, a new blank CD or disc istaken from the storage area and the process is repeated.

The ability to move the carriage that carries the CD between the blankstorage station or station, the printing and recording station, and thefinished CD station using the printhead drive reduces the complexity andcost of the CD transport or pick arm, as well as providing rapid easilycontrolled operations.

Again the size of the disc and the peripheral shape can be and that isdesired, including business card discs, ID discs, mini discs and thelike. The picker can be adapted to suit the discs being handled.

The carriage 30 can be mounted on a separate bearing shaft and guiderails that let the printhead slide the carriage parallel to theprinthead movement. The additional parts for this arrangement mayincrease cost; but parallel slides can be used.

Although the present invention has been described with reference topreferred embodiments, workers skilled in the art will recognize thatchanges may be made in form and detail without departing from the spiritand scope of the invention.

Although the present invention has been described with reference topreferred embodiments, workers skilled in the art will recognize thatchanges may be made in form and detail without departing from the spiritand scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A disc copying and printing apparatus for plasticdiscs comprising: a disc printer having an extendible and retractibleprinter disc support for receiving a disc for printing, the printer discsupport extending between a loading and a printing position; a printerframe for supporting the disc printer and printer disc support, saidprinter frame including a guide shaft extending transversely to theprinter disc support; a printhead mounted on said guide shaft andmoveable along the guide shaft under a control for printing on a disc inthe printer disc support;and a disc transport mechanism including a discpickup head having a disc gripper, said transport mechanism beingmounted on the printer frame for movement in a direction parallel to theguide shaft and coupleable to the printhead to move with the printheadto move said disc from a storage region to the printer disc support. 2.The disc copying and printing apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:a disc recorder having a second extendible disc support for receivingand dispensing a disc for recording, the second disc support extendingto a loading position; and the transport mechanism being movable withthe printhead to deposit discs on the second disc support.
 3. The disccopying and printing apparatus of claim 2, wherein the disc recorder anddisc printer are stacked one above the other, the printer disc supportand the second disc support having center axes that move tosubstantially the same position in direction perpendicular to the planesthereof when the respective disc supports are extended to loadingpositions.
 4. The disc copying and printing apparatus of claim 1,wherein said disc transport mechanism has a latch to attach the disctransport mechanism to the printhead for movement by driving theprinthead.
 5. The disc copying and printing apparatus of claim 4,wherein said disc transport mechanism comprises a carriage, an arm onthe carriage, said arm being moveable generally perpendicular to planesof the disc support.
 6. The disc copying and printing apparatus of claim1, wherein the disc transport mechanism comprises a carriage mountingthe disc pick up head, and a pivoting catch lever on the carriage, thecatch lever pivoting about an axis generally perpendicular to an axis ofthe guide shaft, and a lug on the printhead positioned to be engaged bythe catch lever to attach the carriage to the printhead, so thatmovement of the printhead causes movement of the carriage parallel tothe guide shaft.
 7. The disc copying and printing apparatus of claim 6,wherein the arm has an axis extending from the carriage that is at anoblique angle relative to the axis of the guide shaft.
 8. The disccopying and printing apparatus of claim 7, wherein said carriageincludes a generally uprightly extending rotatably mounted threadedscrew, a motor for rotating said screw, and a connection between the armand the screw for moving the arm along the screw when the screw isrotated.
 9. The disc copying and printing apparatus of claim 8 whereinthe screw moves the arm to a transport position wherein the arm is clearof mechanism and can slide along its mounting to the printer framecarrying a disc to a desired location for printing.
 10. The disc copyingand printing apparatus of claim 9 wherein said screw can be threaded tomove the arm to a position upwardly from the transport position to alatch release position, a portion of the arm engaging and lifting thepivoting catch lever to a position wherein the catch lever will clearthe lug on the printhead.
 11. The disc copying and printing apparatus ofclaim 10 wherein said latch has an inclined lower edge surface thatengages and slides along the lug and lift the catch lever when theprinthead is moved to a position adjacent the carriage.
 12. The disccopying and printing apparatus of claim 1 wherein the apparatus has adisc storage position, a disc printing and recording position, and afinished disc storage position, the central axes of the disc positionslying along a common plane, said common plane being parallel to theguide shaft, and the center of the disc gripper moving along the planeas the disc transport mechanism is moved parallel to the guide shaft.13. The disc copying and printing apparatus of claim 1 wherein theapparatus has a finished disc support substantially centered on abisecting plane of the printer.
 14. The disc copying and printingapparatus of claim 13, wherein an inclined ramp is provided to permitfinished discs to slide toward the finished disc storage support whendeposited on the ramp by the picker.
 15. A CD printer assemblycomprising a printer for printing on a CD, the printer having a loadingposition for receiving CDs, the printer having a movable printhead, aprinter frame having a guide shaft for mounting the printhead, and adrive for driving the printhead along the guide shaft, a CD handlerslidably mounted on the printer frame for movement parallel to guideshaft and having a mechanism for carrying CDs, and a releasable latchbetween the CD handler and the printhead for selectively connecting theCD handler to the printhead for movement of the CD handler with theprinthead.
 16. The assembly of claim 15 and a release device carried onthe CD handler operable to release the latch so that the printhead canbe moved independently of the CD handler.
 17. The assembly of claim 15wherein the latch comprises a pivoting catch lever mounted on the CDhandler, and a lug on the printhead over which the catch lever will fitfor releasably securing the CD handler and the printhead together. 18.The assembly of claim 15 wherein the assembly includes a blank CDstation, and a finished CD station on opposites side of the printerloading position, the CD handler being mounted on and movable along theguide shaft mounting the printhead to positions to overlie the blank CDstation and the finished CD station.
 19. The assembly of claim 15 and aCD recorder having a CD recorder loading position for receiving a CD,the CD handler being mounted on and movable along the guide shaft toposition a CD held in the CD handler to overlie the CD recorder loadingposition.
 20. A method of recording and printing on compact discsutilizing a printer having a printhead, a guide for the printhead forguiding the printhead in a path, a drive for the printhead for moving italong the guide, and a support for an item to be printed that moveslaterally to the path of the printhead, and a carriage mounted formovement parallel to the printhead for carrying an item on whichprinting is applied, comprising moving the carriage by latching thecarriage to the printhead at selected times to selectively move the itemto selected positions.
 21. The method of claim 20 including picking anitem from a store with the carriage, and moving the carriage by drivingthe printhead to a position with the item aligned with the support. 22.The method of claim 21 including unlatching the carriage from theprinthead at selected times to permit the printhead to print on an itemon the support.
 23. The method of claim 22 including relatching thecarriage to the printhead subsequent to a printing operation on theitem, and lifting the item with apparatus on the carriage and moving theprinthead to a position wherein the apparatus on the carriage depositthe item to a selected location.
 24. The method of claim 23 wherein theitem is a CD, and the carriage includes a CD handler, the methodincluding gripping and releasing a CD at the selected locations.